Koscheck at it Again

On Wednesday’s “UFC Fight for the Troops” event, welterweight Josh Koscheck will be entering the Octagon for the third time in the last six months, with his most recent bout coming less than seven weeks ago. The reason that the up-and-comer is so anxious to get back to action so quickly is simple, it is the fastest way back to achieving top contender status.

“I’m just trying to get another victory to get my name back up there, being mentioned as the No. 1 contender in this weight class,” Koscheck stated.Koscheck was last seen losing to Thiago Alves at UFC 90.

Although he was already signed on for this fight with Yoshiyuki Yoshida, the UFC offered him the bout with Alves when Diego Sanchez was forced to pull out due to an injury. It was an opportunity that Koscheck couldn’t pass up.

“It’s (been) quite an interesting last six months,” Koscheck said. “I’ve pretty much been in the gym for six straight months. I prepare the same way to fight everybody. I’m preparing not just to fight a judo guy.”

Yoshida currently holds an impressive 10-2 professional record, and is 1-0 in the UFC. However, before he became an MMA fighter, he was an accomplished Judo and Jiu Jitsu specialist.

Koscheck is well aware of Yoshida’s credentials, however that isn’t going to deter him from doing what he does best.

“If I’m going to take this guy to the mat; I’ve got to run him over,” he said. “I’ve got to blast him. I’ve got to make sure I’m committed a hundred percent when I shoot. If I’m half-ass shooting in, then there’s the potential that my neck gets caught or submissions come.”

On a side note, Wednesday could mark Koscheck’s last fight for the UFC. The American Kickboxing Academy fighter has yet to sign the lifetime exclusivity agreement that the organization is requesting all of their fighters to do for their upcoming video game.

Two weeks ago, UFC president Dana White released fellow AKA teammate Jon Fitch from the organization for failing to do the same thing, stating that he would never again do business with fighters from AKA.

Fitch and the UFC have since ironed out their issues, and Fitch is scheduled to face Akihiro Gono at UFC 94.If Koscheck remains defiant, Wednesday will indeed mark his last Octagon appearance.

To date, all other UFC fighters have signed the agreement, including the organization’s biggest stars.